Call for expression of interest
Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Expert Groups
The Commission hereby invites applications from individuals with a view to establishing a
list of experts who could be invited to participate in sectoral and/or cross-sectoral expert
groups dealing with the issue of critical infrastructure protection to be created as and when the
need arises.
1. Background
The European Council of June 2004 asked for the preparation of an overall strategy to protect
critical infrastructure. The Commission adopted on 20 October 2004 a Communication on
Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Fight against Terrorism which put forward suggestions
on what would enhance European prevention, preparedness and response to terrorist attacks
involving Critical Infrastructures (CI).
The Council conclusions on “Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Terrorist Attacks”
and the “EU Solidarity Programme on the Consequences of Terrorist Threats and Attacks”
adopted by Council in December 2004 endorsed the intention of the Commission to propose a
European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP) and agreed to the setting
up by the Commission of a Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network (CIWIN).
In November 2005, the Commission adopted a Green Paper on a European Programme for
Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP) which provided policy options on how the
Commission could establish EPCIP and CIWIN.
The 2005 December Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council Conclusions on Critical
Infrastructure Protection called upon the Commission to make a proposal for a European
Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection.
The Commission adopted on 12 December 2006 a Communication on a European Programme
for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP)1 and a proposal for a Directive on the
identification and designation of European Critical Infrastructure and the assessment of the
need to improve their protection2.
In April 2007, the JHA Council Conclusions stated that CIP Expert groups at EU level may
be set up in order to benefit from practical professional expertise.
2. CIP Expert Groups
Stakeholder dialogue is crucial for improving the protection of CI within EU. Where specific
expertise is needed the Commission may setup CIP expert groups at EU level to address
clearly defined issues and to facilitate public-private dialogue concerning CIP.
1
2
COM(2006) 786 final
COM / 2006 / 0787
CIP expert groups will not replace other existing groups already established or which could be
adapted to fulfil the needs of EPCIP, nor will they interfere with direct information exchanges
between industry, Member States′ authorities and the Commission.
An EU level CIP expert group will have a clearly stated objective, a timeframe for the
objective to be achieved and clearly identified membership. CIP Expert Groups will be
dissolved following the achievement of their objectives.
Specific functions of CIP expert groups may vary across CI sectors depending on the unique
characteristics of each sector. These functions may include the following tasks:
 assist in identifying vulnerabilities, interdependencies and sectoral best practices;
 assist in the development of measures to reduce and/or eliminate significant
vulnerabilities and the development of performance metrics;
 facilitating CIP information-sharing, training and building trust;
 develop and promote “business cases” to demonstrate to sector peers the value of
participation in infrastructure protection plans and initiatives;
 provide sector-specific expertise and advice on subjects such as research and
development.
The Commission may setup sectoral and/or cross-sectoral expert groups depending on the
issues which need to be addressed. The list of sectors relevant for EPCIP is the following:
Sector
I
Energy
Sub-sector
1
Oil and gas production, refining, treatment, storage and
distribution by pipelines
2
Electricity generation and transmission
II
Nuclear industry
3
Production and storage/processing of nuclear substances
III
Information, Communication
Technologies, ICT
4
Information system and network protection
5
Instrumentation automation and control systems (SCADA etc.)
6
Internet
7
Provision of fixed telecommunications
8
Provision of mobile telecommunications
9
Radio communication and navigation
10
Satellite communication
11
Broadcasting
12
Provision of drinking water
13
Control of water quality
14
Stemming and control of water quantity
IV
Water
V
Food
15
Provision of food and safeguarding food safety and security
VI
Health
16
Medical and hospital care
17
Medicines, serums, vaccines and pharmaceuticals
18
Bio-laboratories and bio-agents
VII
Financial
19
Trading, payment clearing and settlement infrastructures and
systems for financial instruments
VIII
Transport
20
Road transport
21
Rail transport
IX
Chemical industry
22
Air transport
23
Inland waterways transport
24
Ocean and short-sea shipping
25
Production and storage/processing of chemical substances
26
Pipelines of dangerous goods (chemical substances)
X
Space
27
Space
XI
Research facilities
28
Research facilities
3. Eligibility
Applications may be submitted by natural persons who are nationals of an EU or an EEA
country. Third country nationals may submit applications on an exceptional basis, in cases
where they can demonstrate that particular CIP expertise cannot be found within the EU.
Prospective experts are expected to currently hold or have held a senior position within a
relevant stakeholder (stakeholders includes the owners/operators of CI designated as ECI as
well as public authorities and other relevant bodies). They are expected to have:
-
skills and knowledge appropriate to the areas of activities in which they might be asked to
assist;
-
a high level of professional achievement in the CIP field and must have at least 10 years
of relevant work experience;
-
an appropriate language skills with a demonstrable ability to work in English;
-
an appropriate level of security vetting (or being in the process of obtaining such vetting)
by the relevant national security authority. Acceptable levels of security vetting are:
restricted, confidential or secret.
The above will be assessed on the basis of the filled in CV and application form.
4. Confidentiality
To ensure the necessary security of sensitive information, experts called upon to participate in
expert groups will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Throughout their work
they shall observe complete confidentiality of the information and documents brought to their
attention.
5. Applications
Applications may only be submitted by filling in the model application form (Annex 1) and
model CV (Annex 2). Applicants are asked to clearly state in their application the sectors
and/or sub-sectors in which they possess particular expertise in line with the list of CIP
sectors found under Heading 2.
Applications should be sent by email to the following address:
JLS-EPCIP@ec.europa.eu
Each application will be examined on the basis of the criteria set out in this call. The
Commission will inform applicants of the outcome of the call and in particular of whether
they have been included or not in the list of experts.
6. Compensation
The experts invited to participate in CIP expert groups will do so on a voluntary and pro bono
basis. Their travel and subsistence expenses will not be reimbursed by the Commission.
5
Annex 1
APPLICATION FORM
CIP Expert Groups
APPLICATION FORM
Initials of the Applicant:
………………………………………………………………….
6
1. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE APPLICANT
1.1 Title:
1.2 Name:
1.3 First name:
1.4 Gender:
1.5 Contact address for the Commission (address for correspondence)
1.5.1 Street, Number:
1.5.2 Post code:
1.5.3 Town/city:
1.5.4 Country:
1.5.5 Direct telephone +country code (area code)
number:
1.5.6 Direct fax +country code (area code) number:
+
(
)
+
(
)
1.5.7 E-mail:
2. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE APPLICANT′S CURRENT EMPLOYMENT
2.1. Name of Employer (relevant stakeholder):
2.2. Address of the stakeholder
2.2.1. Street, Number:
2.2.2. Post code:
Initials of the Applicant
………………………………………………………………….
7
2.2.3. Town/city:
2.2.4. Country:
2.3. Position held by the applicant:
2.4. Description of applicant′s responsabilities (max 15 lines/2000 car.):
3. CIP EXPERT GROUP PARTICIPATION
3.1. Sectoral and/or cross-sectoral expert group(s) in which the applicant wishes to participate:
Initials of the Applicant
………………………………………………………………….
8
Cross-sectoral expert group
Sectoral/sub-sectoral expert
group(s)
YES
NO
Area of expertise
(if applicable, please specify)
4. LEVEL OF SECURITY VETTING OBTAINED (OR IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING)
BY THE RELEVANT NATIONAL SECURITY AUTHORITY
5. REASON FOR APPLYING
(e. g. Assist in identifying vulnerabilities, interdependencies and sectoral best practices; Assist in the
development of measures to reduce and/or eliminate significant vulnerabilities and the development of
performance metrics; Facilitating CIP information-sharing, training and building trust; Develop and
promote “business cases” to demonstrate to sector peers the value of participation in infrastructure
protection plans and initiatives; Provide sector-specific expertise and advice on subjects such as
research and development.) (max. 15 lines / 2000 car)
Initials of the Applicant
………………………………………………………………….
9
Authorised signatory of the applicant organisation :
Title
Name and Surname
Position in the applicant organisation
Date :
Signature :
.......................................................................
Initials of the Applicant
………………………………………………………………….
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Annex 2
MODEL CURRICULUM VITAE
The curriculum vitae submitted must comply with the format below:
PERSONAL DETAILS3
Family name:
First names:
Date of Birth:
Nationality:
Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
EDUCATION
Repeat this table if necessary
Institution
Date
Title obtained
LANGUAGE SKILLS
* marked 1 to 4; 4 = excellent; add rows if necessary.
Language
Reading*
Speaking*
Writing*
RELEVANT CIP EXPERIENCE

Current CIP activity:
Date
Location
3
Details given under this section must correspond to the details given under section 1 of the Application form.
Initials of the Applicant
………………………………………………………………….
11
Institution
Position
Description
of activity

Previous CIP activity (repeat the table if necessary):
Date
Location
Institution
Position
Description
of activity

Other relevant key qualifications / skills (e.g. experience in the studies, trainings etc in
CIP or closely related fields.):
Initials of the Applicant
………………………………………………………………….